Diseases reference index «Hepatic hemangioma»

A hepatic hemangioma is a noncancerous liver tumor made of widened (dilated) blood vessels.

Causes

A hepatic hemangioma is the most common noncancerous tumor of the liver. It is believed to be a birth defect.

Hepatic hemangiomas can occur at any time, but are most common in people in their 30s - 50s. Women are affected more often than men, and usually have bigger tumors than men.

Babies may develop a type of hepatic hemangioma called benign infantile hemangioendothelioma (also called multinodular hepatic hemangiomatosis). This rare, noncancerous tumor has been linked to high rates of heart failure and death in infants. Infants are usually diagnosed by the time they are 6 months old.

Symptoms

Hemangiomas may cause bleeding or interfere with organ function, depending on their location. Most cavernous hemangiomas do not produce symptoms. In rare cases, a cavernous hemangioma may rupture.

Exams and Tests

Hepatic hemangioma is usually not discovered until medical pictures are taken of the liver for some other reason. If a cavernous hemangioma ruptures, the only sign may be an enlarged liver.

Babies with benign infantile hemangioendothelioma may have:

A growth in the abdomen

Anemia

Signs of heart failure

The following tests may be performed:

Blood tests

CT scan of the liver

Hepatic angiogram

MRI

Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)

Ultrasound of the abdomen

Treatment

Most cavernous hepatic hemangiomas are treated only if the child is in persistent pain.

Treatment for infantile hemangioendothelioma depends on the child's growth and development. The following treatments may be needed:

Inserting a material in a blood vessel of the liver to block it (embolization of the liver)

Tying off (ligation) the liver artery

Medications for heart failure

Surgery to remove the tumor

Outlook (Prognosis)

In infants whose tumor is only in one lobe of the liver, surgery is a cure, even if the child has heart failure.

Possible Complications

Pregnancy and estrogen-based medications can cause cavernous hemangiomas to grow.